Top 10 Best Guitar Riff Creators

The world of rock and roll, metal, and various other genres is filled with these vibrant musical phrases, often serving as the iconic signatures of the songs they inhabit.

These short, repeated, catchy chord progressions are the backbone of countless iconic songs and are often the elements that stick with listeners the longest, creating a tune you find yourself humming long after the song has ended. The creators of these riffs, the maestros of melody and rhythm, are revered figures in the music world, shaping the soundscapes of the genres they inhabit.

The Top Ten

  1. Tony Iommi

    Anthony Frank Iommi, known as Tony Iommi, is an English guitarist, songwriter, and producer. He's best known as the lead guitarist and a founding member of the pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath. At age 17, he lost the fingertips of his right middle and ring fingers in an industrial accident.... read more

    The riff god! Words cannot describe how I first felt, and still do to this day, listening to Into the Void. Same goes for A National Acrobat, Sweet Leaf, actually most Sabbath songs.

    What an absolute pioneer and genius.

    Led Zeppelin is probably my favorite band after Pink Floyd, but Iommi is a better riff writer than Page.

    Page stole many riffs. He didn't write a riff as iconic as "Iron Man." Take a song like "Into the Void," which has five iconic Sabbath riffs in it, and all the songs on the albums are like that. Page doesn't have this ability. Page has one main riff, while Iommi has a main riff, then a groovy verse riff, followed by a series of three iconic groovy riffs, two outro riffs, and you get the idea.

  2. Jimmy Page

    James Patrick Page is an English musician, songwriter, and record producer who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of Led Zeppelin. He's widely regarded for his innovative guitar techniques, production work, and influence across rock music genres. After Led Zeppelin disbanded... read more

    For me, Page is the best riff machine. Page and Iommi are evenly matched, but still, Jimmy is the best because the sound of his riffs is amazing. Plus, his stage presence - he moved his body according to his guitar riffs.

    The stuff he came up with over the years with the Yardbirds that they didn't use, wow.

    Jimmy Page is by far the best riff creator of all time, not to mention the greatest guitarist ever. Every single song has an awesome spot in rock history.

    Jimmy is the best at riffs. Iommi and Page are evenly matched, but despite Page's stage presence, he moved his body according to his guitar sounds.

  3. James Hetfield

    James Alan Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963. He is an American musician, singer, and songwriter known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter for the American thrash metal band Metallica. He helped form the iconic thrash metal group in 1981 after answering... read more

    Yes, this man should top the list. He has created all Metallica's riffs and solos, and Kirk plays them. There are no words to describe this genius!

    Of course, he is not the best guitarist on the list, but I think he is one of the best metal riff creators of all time.

    Thanks, Mr. Hetfield!

  4. Dave Mustaine

    David Scott "Dave" Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, actor, and author. He was the original lead guitarist of Metallica before being dismissed in 1983. Afterward, he formed the band Megadeth, where he became the lead vocalist and primary creative force.... read more

    What? He's the primary songwriter for both Megadeth's music and lyrics. He wrote the entire "Rust in Peace" album, except for the lyrics on "Tornado of Souls" (which he co-wrote with David Ellefson), the music on "Lucretia" (which he also wrote with Ellefson), and "Dawn Patrol," which is less than two minutes long, with the music written by Ellefson.

    This means Mustaine single-handedly wrote the riffs for "Holy Wars," "Hangar 18," "Take No Prisoners," "Five Magics," "Poison Was the Cure," "Tornado of Souls" (again, Ellefson only helped with the lyrics), and "Rust in Peace." And that's just one of the best Megadeth albums. He also wrote all the music and lyrics for the "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" album, excluding one cover song.

  5. Dimebag Darrell

    Darrell Lance Abbott, also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist and songwriter. He co-founded the bands Pantera and Damageplan with his brother Vinnie Paul. Abbott was tragically shot and killed during a performance in 2004 by a mentally unstable fan.

    Cemetery Gates (both the clean and distorted riffs) is highly underrated. Walk, Cowboys from Hell. These are not ordinary riffs.

  6. Angus Young

    Angus McKinnon Young is an Australian guitarist of Scottish origin, best known as the co-founder, lead guitarist, songwriter, and the only constant member of the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. He is recognized for his energetic stage presence and schoolboy-uniform stage outfits. When performing live... read more

    All AC/DC songs have amazing riffs! Angus Young and Malcolm Young are geniuses! The Young brothers are masters at riffs!

  7. Jimi Hendrix

    Jimi Hendrix was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Though his mainstream career lasted only about four years from 1966 to 1970, he's widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in popular music.... read more

  8. Keith Richards

    Keith Richards is an English musician, primarily a guitarist, as well as a singer, songwriter, best-selling memoirist, and founding member of the rock band The Rolling Stones. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists in rock history. Richards has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall... read more

    None better. Period. Honky Tonk Women is why the guitar was invented.

  9. Slash

    Saul Hudson, known professionally as Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He has also released solo work and collaborated with... read more

    Everyone knows his riffs from Appetite for Destruction, and the riffs from his solo albums are extremely overlooked.

    I don't even have to explain. His music says it all.

  10. Ritchie Blackmore

    Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter best known for his work with the hard rock and heavy metal bands Deep Purple and Rainbow.

    In 2004, Guitar World ranked him number 16 on its list of the "100 Greatest Metal Guitarists of All Time," and in 2011, Rolling Stone... read more

    It's not only Smoke on the Water. There are other great riffs like Highway Star, Black Night, Perfect Strangers, Burn, Pictures of Home, Strange Kind of Woman, etc.

    What is Blackmore doing down at 11 on a riff creator list?

    Only 14th? Surely, he should be in the top 5 with his legacy.

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Mike Mushok

  12. ?

    Adam Jones

    Adam Thomas Jones (born January 15, 1965) is a three-time Grammy Award-winning American musician and visual artist, best known for his position as the guitarist for Tool. He is also recognized for directing many of the band's music videos. Prior to his music career, Jones worked in special effects and... read more

    13. The Contenders

  13. Chuck Berry

    Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. He is known for songs such as "Johnny B. Goode," "Roll Over Beethoven," and "Maybellene." Berry died on March 18, 2017.

  14. Kirk Hammett

    Kirk Lee Hammett (born November 18, 1962) is an American musician who has been the lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Metallica since 1983. In addition to playing guitar, he contributes as a songwriter for the band.

    Prior to joining Metallica, Hammett co-founded the thrash metal band Exodus... read more

  15. Jerry Cantrell

    Jerry Fulton Cantrell Jr. is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and guitarist best known as the founder, lead guitarist, co-lead vocalist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Alice in Chains. He has also released solo albums and contributed to various collaborations. Cantrell's guitar work... read more

  16. Eric Clapton

    Eric Patrick Clapton is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is the only three-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of the Yardbirds and Cream. He was also a founding member of Derek and the Dominos, known for... read more

    Lay Down Sally, Cocaine, Sunshine of Your Love, Tears in Heaven, Layla, and many more.

  17. Randy Rhoads

    Randall William "Randy" Rhoads was an American heavy metal guitarist who played with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot. He was widely regarded for his innovative guitar work and neoclassical metal style. Rhoads was killed in a plane crash on March 19, 1982, at the age of 25.

  18. Malcolm Young

    Malcolm Mitchell Young (January 6, 1953 to November 18, 2017) was an Australian musician best known as the rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist, and co-founder of the hard rock band AC/DC. He was a key force behind the band's sound and songwriting, contributing to many of their greatest hits. Young remained... read more

    Malcolm was the true riff writer behind AC/DC, not Angus. He deserves the credit.

  19. Tom Morello

    Thomas Morello is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and political activist. He's best known for his tenure with the band Rage Against the Machine and later with Audioslave. Morello's also known for his innovative guitar style and his solo project, The Nightwatchman.... read more

    The craziest riffs of '90s metal: Killing in the Name, Sleep Now in the Fire, Guerrilla Radio, Bulls on Parade, Know Your Enemy, and the list goes on and on.

  20. Brian May

    Brian Harold May (born July 19, 1947) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and astrophysicist. He is best known as the lead guitarist of Queen. He co-founded the band in 1970 and contributed iconic guitar parts and vocal harmonies on hits like Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, and Another One... read more

  21. Adrian Smith

    Adrian Frederick "H" Smith is an English guitarist, best known as a member of Iron Maiden. He contributes as a songwriter and performs live backing vocals on some tracks. Smith has been part of Iron Maiden during several key periods in the band's history, originally joining in 1980 and returning in 1999... read more

  22. Pete Townsend

    Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the lead guitarist and primary songwriter for the rock band The Who. He is considered one of the most influential rock guitarists and composers of all time. Townshend has also... read more

  23. Jack White

    John Anthony "Jack" White is an American singer and songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the duo The White Stripes. He has also achieved success with other bands, including The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, as well as in his solo career.

    Seven Nation Army, Fell in Love with a Girl, Blue Orchid, Icky Thump, Sixteen Saltines. I could go on and on.

  24. Billy Gibbons

    William Frederick "Billy" Gibbons is an American musician, singer, songwriter, producer, and actor. He is best known as the guitarist and lead vocalist of the American rock band ZZ Top. Gibbons is recognized for his blues-infused style and his signature long beard.

  25. Jeff Hanneman

    Jeffrey John "Jeff" Hanneman was an American musician, best known as a founding member and guitarist of the American thrash metal band Slayer. He co-wrote many of the band's most iconic songs, including "Raining Blood" and "Angel of Death." Hanneman was with the band from its inception in 1981 until... read more

    Jeff wrote some of the most menacing, memorable, and devastating riffs ever after Iommi. Mr. Hanneman should be way higher, if not top ten. Reign in Blood is a defining moment in music, largely due to the immense creative force of Jeff Hanneman.

  26. Billy Corgan

    William Patrick "Billy" Corgan Jr. is an American musician, songwriter, producer, television writer, poet, and professional wrestling promoter. He is best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and only permanent member of the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. Corgan also owns and operates the... read more

  27. Joe Perry

    Anthony Joseph "Joe" Perry (born September 10, 1950) is the lead guitarist, backing and occasional lead vocalist, and songwriting contributor for the American rock band Aerosmith. Known for his distinctive solos, he has been co‑leader of the band alongside Steven Tyler since its formation in the early... read more

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